There are so many great recordings of 'St James Infirmary', it would be impossible to choose a 'best' version, which is part of the reason this is not a 'best of' or 'greatest' list. Bill Coleman's live version from 1952, however, is one that everyone should know about. Not only is his warm, masterful trumpet on display, but his vocal too, which is among the very finest in interpreting this classic.
[ This is not a comprehensive list, nor is it representative of the "most important" or "best." Instead, following Duke Ellington's adage that the greatest music and musicians are "beyond category", I'm starting 2020 by sharing 100 jazz tunes I feel everyone should have the chance to hear--really just tunes and performances that I love. ]
